American Airlines Plane Makes Emergency Landing, Several Injured After Turbulence

American Airlines planes are parked at gates in the Miami International Airport in Miami, Florida, on Nov. 12, 2013. Photo: Getty Images/Joe Raedle

A Milan-bound American Airlines plane from Miami faced severe turbulence late Sunday, leading to seven people being injured. The Boeing 767, carrying 192 passengers and 11 crew members, had to make an emergency landing in Newfoundland, Canada. The seat belt sign was switched on after the turbulence began, according to reports.

The plane landed safely landed in the East Coast Canadian province, where paramedics were ready to tend to those on board. A spokesman for American Airlines, Ross Feinstein, said that three flight attendants and four passengers were injured and they were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, the Associated Press reported. However, he added that he didn’t think their injuries were life-threatening.

“We are taking care of our passengers and crew, and we are working on next steps to get them safely to their destination,” American Airlines said in a statement, according to CBS News.

At least four ambulances and a fire truck reached the tarmac at St. John’s International Airport and after an hour of the plane's landing, only one ambulance remained. Feinstein said that the company is figuring out how to send the uninjured passengers to Milan. A spokeswoman for St. John’s airport reportedly said that the plane will remain at the airport for the night.

Gustavo Canga of Miami, who was on the plane when the incident took place, said that flight attendants and some passengers who were standing at the back of the plane slammed upwards when the aircraft dropped, the Canadian Press reported.

"I was very scared," Canga reportedly said, adding that there seemed to be some back injuries due to sudden steep dive that the plane took.

The passengers were taken to hotels in St. John’s after the incident, reports said.